Recognized as one of the greatest throwers of all
time, Godina’s career has been derailed the last couple seasons due to injuries,
which have included a torn ligament in his foot and a shoulder that had two
tears in the labrum and a tear in the rotator cuff that required surgery. The
procedure took place after he finished third at the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor
Championships. Due to injuries, 2006 marked the first time since 1994 that he
did not finish ranked in the top ten in the world by Track & Field News.
Constant pain from tendonitis in the heel of his left foot caused Godina to
compete at far less than his best during the 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons,
though he is looking forward to a pain-free 2008 campaign. Godina got off to a
great start in 2005 in winning his first U.S. Indoor shot put title since 1998
with a world-leading throw of 21.83meters/71 feet, 7.5 inches. Along with
capturing his fourth career U.S. Indoor crown, Godina also won the men’s 2005
Visa Championship, which includes a check for $25,000 and a trip to a Visa
premiere event. He started his outdoor season with a PR of 22.20/72-10 at the
adidas Track Classic, and won the Payton Jordan U.S. Open before injuring his
right foot/ankle at the Reebok Grand Prix, which kept him from being at his best
the rest of the season. Godina ended the 2005 season with the top two throws in
the world that year from his wins at the adidas Track Classic (22.20m/72-10PR)
and Payton Jordan U.S. Open (21.93m/71-11.5). A three-time World Outdoor
Champion in the shot put and two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 1996, bronze
in 2000), Godina had one of his best seasons of his already impressive career in
2001, winning the World Indoor and Outdoor titles and performing all year long
as the world’s best shot putter. The result of his season was winning his second
Jesse Owens Award. In 2001, at the Peregrine Systems U.S. Open on June 9 in Palo
Alto, Godina had an incredible single-day double in the shot put and discus,
winning the shot at 21.95m/72-0.25 (2nd best in the world for 2001) and placing
2nd in DT (67.06/220-0). Five of his six throws in the SP in Palo Alto were over
70 feet…He ended the 2001 campaign owning 8 of the top-10 shot put performances
in the world, and winning 13 of the 15 competitions he entered, with 2000 world
#1 Adam Nelson beating him both times (U.S. Indoor at the Goodwill Games) …Godina
credits sustained and intense post-Olympic training and weight lifting with his
improved consistency…In 1996, he became the first American to make the Olympic
team in the shot and discus since Bud Houser did in 1924. He repeated that feat
in 2000 … a former All-America high school football star, Godina is one of only
10 men to rank in both the shot put and the discus in 50 years of Track & Field
News rankings. His 1-3 ranking in 1998 were the second-best such combo in
history, after only Parry O’Brien (2-SP, 1-DT in 1957)... serves as an
anti-doping ambassador for U.S. Anti-Doping Agency...married Kendra in October,
2004. Kendra is a pilates instructor, and Godina takes classes as part of his
training.

2008: 12th at
Olympic Trials in discus throw (57.27m/187-11)...5th at
Reebok Grand Prix (62.66m/205-07)…3rd at adidas Track Classic (61.85/202-11).
2007: 5th at USA
Indoors (19.63m/64-05)…no mark at USA Outdoors qualifying…4th at
Reebok Boston Indoor Games (19.25m/63-02)…1st at Phoenix
(20.60m/67-7)…4th at Millrose Games (19.29m/63-03.5)… 6th
at Prefontaine Classic (19.58m/64-03.00)…best of 20.60m/67-7.
2006: 3rd at USA Indoor
champs (20.50m/67-3.25)…missed most of season due to shoulder surgery…ranked #7
in U.S. by T&FN…best of 20.50m/67-3.25.
2005:USA Indoor champ
(21.83m/71-7.5)...3rd at USA Outdoors (20.99m/68-10.50)...8th in qualifying Group
B at World Outdoor Champs (19.54m/64-1.25)...2nd at Reebok Grand Prix
(21.40mS/70-02.50)...1st at adidas Track Classic (22.20m/72-10PR)...1st at Payton
Jordan U.S. Open (21.93/71-11.5)...ranked #2 in world (#2 U.S.)...best of
22.20m/72-10.2004: 3rd at Olympic Trials (21.08m/69-2)...9th at Olympic Games
(20.19m/66-3)...1st at San Diego (21.32m/69-11.5)...1st at Payton Jordan US Open
(21.71m/71-2.75)...3rd at adidas Oregon (21.67m/71-1.25)...1st at Salinas
(21.07m/69-1.5)...3rd at Home Depot (21.04m/69-0.5)...1st at Westwood
(20.72m/67-11.75)...ranked #7 in world (#4 U.S.) in SP...best of 21.71m/71-2.75.2003: 9th at World Outdoor Champs (19.84m/65-1.25)...USA Indoor runner-up
(20.86m/68-5.25)...silver medalist at World Indoors SP (21.23m/69-8)...runner-up at
USA Outdoors (21.04m/69-0.50)...3rd at Home Depot Invitational
(20.86m/68-5.25)...1st at Oracle U.S. Open (20.67m/67-9.75)...best of
21.08m/69-2ranked #5 in world (#3 U.S.) in SP, #2 in discus in U.S. by T&FN.2002: 2nd at USA Outdoors SP (21.91m/71-10.75)...2nd at USA Outdoors DT
(63.18m/207-3)...3rd at Nike Prefontaine (21.91m/71-10.75)...2nd at Gresham
(21.89m/71-10)...1st at Irvine (21.51m/70-7)...1st at Stanford (21.38m/70-1.25)...1st
at Salinas (20.91m/68-7.25)...4th in DT at LaJolla (64.71m/212-3)...1st at L.A.
(63.22m/207-5)...ranked #3 in world & U.S., #2 in discus in U.S. by T&FN...bests of
21.91m/71-10.75 & 64.71m/212-3.2001: World Outdoor SP champion (21.87m/71-9)...World Indoor SP champion (20.82m/68-3.75)...2nd at USA Indoors (20.57/67-6)...1st in SP
(21.60/70-10.5) & 2nd in DT (65.39/214-6) at USA Outdoors...did not make discus
final at World Outdoors (57.19m/187-7)...won SP (21.95/72-0.25) 2nd in DT
(67.06/220-0) at Peregrine Systems U.S. Open...2nd in SP at Goodwill Games
(20.76/68-1.50)...won Jesse Owens Award as top U.S. male track athlete, his
second such honor after winning in 98...ranked #1 in world in SP, #2 in U.S. in
DT by T&FN...bests of 21.95/72-0.25 and 67.66/222-0.2000: SP Olympic bronze medalist (21.20/69-6.75), did not make Olympic
discus final (61.60/202-1)...second in discus (63.61m/208-08) at Olympic Trials,
4th in SP (21.09m/69-2.5)...ranked #3 in the world and U.S. in SP, 3rd in U.S.
in DT...bests of 21.51/70-7 and 68.34/224-2.1999: Won USA Indoors... silver at World Indoors... won SP (72-3); 2nd in
DT (217-3) at USA Outdoors... 7th in SP (66-9.25); 16th in DT (204-3) qualifying
at World Champs... bests of 72-3 and 226-6.1998: Undefeated in the shot...won USA Outdoors in both shot (71-2.75)
and discus (220-1), the first time the double had been accomplished since Parry
OBrien in 1955 ... won USA Indoor (71-5.25)...racked up his seasonal best
71-5.5 to win at Mt SAC, along with a 218-1 in the discus; it was the best-ever
one-day SP/DT double...won Goodwill Games (70-4.5) and was 3rd in discus
(206-2)...won GP Final (69-7)...won World Cup shot (70-5.75), and was 4th in
discus (213-9)...amazingly consistent, never threw worse than 69-7 in 17
meets...won Jesse Owens Award as top U.S. male track athlete ranked #1 in world
in SP, and #3 in world (#1 U.S.) in DT by T&FN...bests of 71-5.5 and 229-4.1997: Gold in SP (70-4.25) at World Champs, 5th in discus
(214-7)...bronze at World Indoors... won USA Indoors (67-8.75)... won discus
(221-1 PR), 4th in SP (67-2.75) at USA Outdoors... ranked #1 in world in SP, and
#4 in world (#1 U.S.) in DT by T&FN... bests of 71-4.25 and 221-1.1996: Silver medal in shot (68-2.5) at Olympic Games, 14th in discus
qualifying (202-10)... 2nd in SP (69-6.25) and DT (211-10) at Olympic
Trials...won USA Indoor (66-9.75)... ranked #2 in world (and U.S.) in SP, and #3
in U.S. in DT by T&FN... bests of 69-8.75 and 211-10.1995: Won gold in shot (70-5.25) at World Champs, 10th in discus (199-7,
limited by elbow problems)... 2nd in both at USA Outdoors (68-7, 211-11)...won
NCAA Indoor (66-11.25)...won SP and DT at Pac-10 Champs...won both at NCAA
Outdoors...ranked #1 in world in SP, #9 in world in DT (#2 U.S.) by T&FN...
bests of 72-2.25 and 213-0.1994: Won NCAA Indoor (65-8.75)... won NCAA Outdoor in discus; 3rd in
SP...7th in SP at USA Outdoors, 11th in discus...2nd in SP at Olympic
Festival... won SP and DT at Pac-10 Champs...ranked # 7 in U.S. in SP and DT
both by T&FN... bests of 65-8.75 and 204-2.1993: 2nd in SP at NCAA Outdoors, 6th in discus ...3rd in NCAA Indoor
(62-9.25)...won both shot and discus at Pac-10 Champs...8th in SP at USA
Outdoors, 17th in discus qualifying...ranked #7 in U.S. in SP by T&FN... bests
of 65-8.75 and 198-5.1992: 7th in NCAA Indoor (59-9)...2nd in SP at Pac-10, 3rd in
discus...7th in SP at NCAA Outdoors, 13th in discus qualifying...17th in shot
qualifying at Olympic Trials, 9th in discus final... bests of 64-6.75 and
201-10.1991: Won both shot and discus at USA Juniors...won gold medals in both
events at Pan Am Juniors... bests of 58-3 and 192-3.1990: Won both SP and DT at Wyoming HS state meet for second straight
year... won DT at USA Juniors...earned Simpson Award as Wyomings outstanding
prep athlete... bests of 63-1.25 (hs) and 210-4 (hs)... also threw 175-9 with
the international disc.1989: Won both shot and DT at Wyoming HS state meet... bests of 57-5.75 (hs)
and 194-9 (hs).1988: Won the Wyoming HS state discus title... bests of 64-1.25 (hs) and
171-11 (hs).